alskuefhaih
asoiefh

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

gift to the world



Remember when you were young,
and if you acted too full of yourself your friend would say,
"What do you think you are, God's gift to the world?"
Well, you are a gift to the world. The reason for the season
isn't only Jesus' birth. It's your birth, and mine.
The blood in our veins is a cosmological mystery.
What keeps us alive? Whether it's God
or some other light, every morning we wake up with new baby eyes,
fresh with brightness for the world and possibilities.
This pin is a cheap piece of costume jewelry,
yet to me it is as lustrous as Harry Winston diamonds.
The best of what you create and give is free, but so valuable,
because no one else sees how you see
or gives what you give.
-
You are a gift to the world.
-
Merry Christmas
Krismas Mubaarak (Urdu)
Hyvaa joulua (Finnish)
Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
God Jul (Swedish)
Niibaa' anami'egiizhigad (Ojibwa)
Fröhliche Weihnachten (German)
Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal (Tamil)
Joyeux Noël (French)
Noeliniz Kutlu Olsun (Turkish)
Shubh Naya Baras (Hindi - Happy New Year)
Posa varushada shubashayagalu (Tulu - Happy New Year)
Cestit Bozic (Bosnian)
Maligayang Pasko (Filipino)
Nollaig chridheil (Irish)
Souksan wan Christmas (Thai)
Mirary noely sambatra (Malagasy)
Kala Christouyenna (Greek)
Vrolijk Kerstfeest (Dutch)
-
I hope I didn't miss anyone who comes here!
Merry Christmas, everyone.

47 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

Merry Christmas Ruth!!

Susan said...

Dear Ruth, thank you for that gift and for your wise words that inspire me and uplift me and sometimes bring me to tears. We are all just tiny pieces of the big puzzle of humanity, aren't we? I'm so glad that we seem to fit like puzzle pieces.

Merry Christmas!

cathyswatercolors said...

Merry Christmas my blog bud. What a grand time getting to read your wonderful thoughts and sharing.Thank you Ruth.

The pin looks like the real thing to me,what museum did you say it was from?

Sharon said...

Beautiful pin, beautiful words, beautiful thoughts.

I was thinking about this recently.
I began to like the idea that the world is the gift, not me. That I am blessed to be a part of it; making simply "being here" my role. Passive and convenient I know, but for me, comforting.

You have truly been a gift Ruth. Thank you.

Anet said...

Niibaa' anami'egiizhigad (Ojibwa)
Ruth! This is a lovely post, thank you for this. Now I just might find the energy to bake Christmas Cookies today!

Loring Wirbel said...

Best gift of the season. Merry Christmas, Ruth. The prose-poem and pin belong on a poster, where it can be on public display. So many people need to see those comforting words.

Babs (Beetle) said...

And a Humphey Chwiffmuff to you!

That's me saying 'Happy Christmas' with a mince pie in my mouth ;O)

VioletSky said...

I have been thinking of kaleidoscopes lately (and searching for one, just a whim, that I want) and your pin reminded me of one. It made me smile and I needed that, today. And your words just me smile again.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

thank you Ruth, and wish you and yours a merry christmas and a very happy new year too :)

christina said...

Aww.. this is beautiful! Merry Christmas, friend. ; )

rauf said...

oh i like Swedish 'God jul' of all Ruth. Short and sweet and its not heavy.
i don't think god is God here, the big G, must be good or happy or merry.
GOD JUL Now i am waiting for some one to knock my door. Can't wait to bang GOD JUL on them.
Is that a new camera ? Nirmal would ask, show me show me
God jul is not a camera Nirmal.
Anything to eat then ? i am hungry.
God jul is not a dish Nirmal.

i can see your efforts behind compiling these. How you want the world to be a better place. Thank you Ruth.
God Jul to you Don, Peter Lesley, Brian, Bootsie, your Brothers sisters. and Rachel, oh deah ! Where is Rachel ? Hope you would be meeting Donica, God jul to her toos.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh my this is truly beautiful... you have a precious mind... no jewel shines brighter..

Prasad said...

oh man!! u got the tamil one here!! wowowowow! and hindi too!!!

merry christmas and a Gr8 new year to you and the family! :D

Nautankey said...

Merry christmas Ruth...ur post reminds me of this line "Christmas is not a date but a state of mind" :)

Let the spirit of christmas bring in joy for u n ur loved ones

sandy said...

Merry Christmas to you, Don and the family!! Beautiful pin and sentiments.

photowannabe said...

You are a gift to us with your well chosen words and beautiful pictures. I like the thought of being a gift to eachother.
May you and yours have a Merry Christmas and the very best New Year.

Ruth said...

Merry Christmas, it's early Christmas morning, Kerry. I'm up before the world.

Ruth said...

Susan, I love that - it's true!

Ruth said...

Cathy, my dear. So glad we've met here.

Oh, no I didn't get this pin at a museum, but I couldn't tell you where I did get it - just at a department store I think.

Ruth said...

Thank you, dear Sharon. It's been my treat to get to know you here this year. Yes, we don't have to do anything really, just be. We can't help but be harmonious with nature and the world if we let go of ambitions, I think.

Ruth said...

Anet, you're so sweet. Whenever I see you I feel I'm with a woman-child - the best of kindness, caring and wonder.

Ruth said...

Loring, my friend, you never cease to encourage me with your kind words, curiosity and insight. I look forward to exploring 2009 with you.

Ruth said...

Babs! How did you get to be so adorable??

Now when you say 'mince pie' do you mean minced meat as in animal meat in a savory pie, like Shepherd's Pie? Or mincemeat as in raisins and brandy goodness?? I thought nobody but me and my FIL liked mincemeat pie any more. :)

Ruth said...

Sanna, I hope you get a kaleidoscope for Christmas. When I see them in a store I am lost in their wonder for half an hour. I'm so glad we are blog friends.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Moi! It's fun to see you enjoying a real live Midwestern winter.

Ruth said...

Dear Christina, let's have fun looking at the world this year.

Ruth said...

Dear rauf, how many languages do you know? I think you must recognize and understand half these "Merry Christmas-es." You could have been a translator traveling around India, taking visitors like me and making sure we get the best bargains and see the important things. Oh . . wait . . .you do that already. Now you will be ready for Swedish visitors, and I wouldn't be surprised if they hunt you down now like half the population of the Eastern Hemisphere (and Western too!): Where is Mr. Rauf, the man who can show us the beauty of India?

Ruth said...

Oh Gwen, my sweet friend. What you said is you actually.

Ruth said...

Prasad, my new friend, I had to make my friends from Chennai, Tamil Nadu feel welcome. Did I tell you, I don't think I did, my mom studied Tamil here at my university.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Nautankey, it already has. Here I am on Christmas morning early, up before the house, happily talking with my friends, picturing you half a world away where it's warm.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Auntie Sandy! I hope CA is warm and Christmassy today.

Ruth said...

Sue, you are a very supporting blog friend to so many - and you are an amazing light in your community.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Ruth! Kiitos!

It has been a beautiful and warmhearted Christmas, I wish, it has been same to you, Dear Ruth!

Ginnie Hart said...

I heard from our German friends today, Ruth, so Frohe Weihnachten, too. What a lovely sentiment for this time of the year! Hope you've had a great, family day.

Amy said...

Ah Ruth~! I just have to say that after a most wonderful full Christmas day filled with everything love this post is the icing on the cake;) so beautiful and the perfect way to say and to all a good night...xoXO! :)

Ruth said...

Oh Leena, my dear sister, I'm so happy you had a warm Christmas with your family. We had one like that too, even when we walked in the deep snow we felt warmhearted. Lots of love, Leena.

Ruth said...

Boots, it's been a wonderful time with the kids home and our new son too. I hope you had a wonderful day with Amy, Nicholas, Mark, Dennis and Donica. Just a few days more, my dear!

Ruth said...

Amy, how wonderful!

Charley said...

Gazuar Krishte Lindjet - Albanian

Sretan Bozic - Croatian

Ruth said...

Thank you, Charley.

Bob Johnson said...

Beautiful post Ruth, I love the pin at the top, very cool.

Ruth said...

Hi, Bob. Thank you.

cheatymoon said...

Oh, I love this.

Ruth said...

Thanks!

California Girl said...

Decided to return to this post. I re-read it occasionally. I love the brooch and it draws me in to your beautiful words. Very fitting any time of the year.

Ruth said...

Wow that's cool, California Girl.

Kate said...

I was pulled over here today, on your birthday, 2010...only to find a gift even more beautiful than the one you left for us today.

What a blessing to have found you swimming so close to me in this stream.